Many people love to shop. When things are on sale, people go after them, and in bulk! Lets not leave out store credit cards that store representatives practically poke you with right before you’re about to pay for your purchase. In speaking of credit cards, what’s one word that comes to mind when you think of credit cards? Debt is the answer, but not the solution to your financial issues. You’ve probably heard of a couple of frightening stories or more about your friends, relatives, or others being in debt. Debt isn’t something that can’t be taken care of. For starters, you need to recognize how much debt that you’re in.

Discover How Deep The Rabbit Hole Is

Sit down and reassess yourself. Know and embrace the fact that you may have a big problem on your hands. As much as you may not want to do this, it must be done. Gather all credit card and loan statements and other bills. Add up everything to determine an outstanding total of what you owe. This is so that whenever you gradually chomp away at the total debt, you’ll know what’s left.

Pay In Cash

The safest and most secure way of guaranteeing purchases is by paying in cash. Although just swiping a card through a reader is more convenient, that’s what got you in debt the first place! You don’t have to get rid of every single credit card that you own. Have at least one handy, or two (depending on your financial situation). If you’re able to manage two, then have one regular credit card and one store credit card for your favorite store.

It’s Time

Now that you’re aware of how deep you went, it’s time to climb out of that hole. Take one step at a time. Maintain willpower all the while. Keep in mind that debt can be dealt with. It’s a step-by-step process, really. First, pay off credit cards and loans with the highest interest rates. Taking care of the big ones will save you a significant amount of trouble down the path of being debt free. Best to get those out of the way anyhow. Better yet, if creditors contact you in regards to a loan, credit statement, or bill, then respond in a friendly and calm manner.

Try to negotiate with them in your favor. Having a nice and approachable attitude over the phone or email may result in extra fees being dropped, having lower interest rates, and the like. To help pay off your debt, cut off extra expenditures that you rarely use or don’t need at all, such as cable or monthly subscriptions. After you become a proud member of the debt free club, maintain a manageable (and realistic) budget. Doing so may help you iron out further unnecessary spending. Keep track of your spending on a bi-weekly (best) or monthly basis.

There are many things in this world that annoy us ever day. You have certain insects such as mosquitos, which always have that urge to land on you and feast. Then there’s germs and bacteria afloat throughout our daily lives. Anything that would cosmetically harm you is highly annoying; warts, pimples, blemishes, and the like. To top everything else, you have bill collectors. You’re more than likely to get a call from a bill collector if you’re behind on bills, whether they revolve around rent or medical services. A bill collector may also contact you in reference to a loan that still needs to be paid off. While they’re obligated to contact you in regards to owed debt, there are ways of getting rid of a debt collector.

Dispute The Debt

A collector is mandated to send you a validation notice within a 5-day period after they contact you for the first historical time. This document will state the amount you apparently owe and the name of the creditor(s) the debt is going to be paid to. If you feel that you don’t owe the specified debt, then you can write or type out a letter stating so. It’s safe and within your right to do this. You may also request further verification for absolutely determining whether you happen to owe a debt or not.

Be sure to send out the letter stating that you don’t owe the specified debt and that you’re requesting verification of the debt within 30 days of receiving the validation notice. If you receive no response from the original collector, then they must not try to collect nor contact you in the future.

Pay It Off

If it turns out that you truly happen to owe the specified debt, then inquire about a payment plan. Try to do so in a polite and calm manner. There’s also the route of just simply paying off the debt entirely in one shot, if you can readily afford to do so. Tone of voice has the potential of making a difference, especially if the collector is threatening you or speaking offensively to you in any way. If they talk to you in either manner, then ask for a manager or supervisor to escalate the issue. Doing this may grant you a payment plan, since the collector was more than likely to not cooperate in the first place.

Specify When They’re Allowed To Contact You

A bill collector can’t get away with constantly calling your house phone or cell phone. They’re not even allowed to contact your employer(s). As long as you tell them verbally or in writing that they’re not allowed to call your employer(s) and at certain times during the week, a bill collector must comply. If they fail to do so, then you can take them to court and potentially win yourself $1,000. A bill collector can, however, still contact you if they actually send out a verification of the debt, in which case you may have to satisfy the debt. This is even if you win the case in court.

While a bill collector may have a right to their money, you actually have more rights than they do as a consumer. Whether you owe the debt that’s cited by a collector or not, these tips will surely help you get rid of them.